Fresh appeal for open prison absconder with convictions of sex with schoolgirl, assault and robbery

Ivan Leach

Published:11:45Wednesday 24 October 2012

Police have today issued a fresh appeal for an ‘extremely violent’ offender who walked out of North Sea Camp.

Lee Cyrus, also known as Ivan Leach, 47, was on day release from the Freiston Shore open prison, where he was serving a sentence for robbery, when he walked out on Tuesday, October 9.

Cyrus has previously lived in Lancashire, mostly in the Preston area but he has also stayed in Blackburn.

Since he has been at large, it is believed he has spent some time in the Tayside area but that he may now be anywhere in the UK.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Taylor said: “It is extremely important that we locate Cyrus as quickly as possible and any information members of the public can provide could be crucial to apprehending him.

“We would ask members of the public to be vigilant and not to approach him but report any sightings to the police.”

Cyrus is described as being white, around 5ft 11in tall, of stocky build with cropped hair and hazel eyes.

As revealed by the Standard on October 12 Cyrus has previous convictions for having sex with a 13-year-old girl, attacking a woman with a screwdriver as well as his life sentence for robbery on a 90-year-old widow.

Lancashire Police labelled him ‘extremely violent’ and in 2001 the NSPCC raised concerns that he had a very high risk of reoffending against children and adults.

The candidates bidding to be Lincolnshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner have called for answers over why Cyrus was allowed to be at North Sea Camp and why he was able to abscond.

Anyone with information as to his current whereabouts, or anyone who has seen him since October 9 should contact Lincolnshire Police on 101.